Learning alphabets

I found it helpful in Greece and Russia. If you were in a college sorority or fraternity is should be second nature.

Naaaaa, I've been to both more than once, you will survive without it just fine. But if you are into that sort of thing and will find enjoyment in learning .... go for it.

As for any country, I think it may be helpful for my own spring visit to Bulgaria to recognize a few key words in Bulgarian Cyrillic, like PECTOPAHT (RESTAURANT) or the labeling for toilets for women and men (жени or мъже.)

But then, I'm one of those who thinks that sort of thing is fun. I learned Russian Cyrillic before my planned 2020 Rick Steves tour to St Petersburg.

I found a picture of the restroom sign at the Rila Monastery https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.alamy.com%2Fbulgaria-sofia-rila-monastery-toilet-sign-image259593775.html&psig=AOvVaw3TrZKb4b5kABy4IXiswXkg&ust=1669043470816000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CBAQjRxqFwoTCNCitdaFvfsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

ANd your restaurant: https://www.google.com/search?q=bulgaria+mc+donalds+cyrlic&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwi4nc-Ghr37AhVtwLsIHduuDcYQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=bulgaria+mc+donalds+cyrlic&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQA1DqB1jYFGCLGGgAcAB4AIABbogB6AWSAQM2LjKYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ7gBA8ABAQ&sclient=img&ei=DER6Y7jnDu2A7_UP2922sAw&bih=646&biw=1163&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS935US935#imgrc=xoi32raOugl81M

Just kidding. I agree, if you can learn, always has its advantages in a lot of ways. I am just to stiff between the ears; and yet get by .......... so far

I still remember the Russian for restaurant which came in handy.

I found most people I ran into in Greece spoke English and English signs are everywhere.

Remember, English is the most widely spoken second language in the world.

There's nothing like great branding to make the McDonald's sign memorable in any language, Mister E!

In that regard, I found an app that helped me more easily remember the Cyrillic letters.

I will never forget the capital letter for Дisneyland!

I appreciate the various answers. I think I'll at least try to master a little bit of each. Unfortunately I wasn't the sorority type, so never did really learn those Greek letters.

Very funny about the McDonald's sign. I try not to stoop that quite that low.

I don't remember about Bulgaria, but I think Greek destination signs on buses and the like have city/etc. names in both alphabets. I remember even street names being shown both ways.

You might want to start with Bulgarian; English is much more widely spoken in Greece than in Bulgaria--though even there, you should be able to communicate with folks in the tourist industry.

Signage in Greece, at least where tourists go, is bilingual or better. But I learned the Greek alphabet before going there, at my wife's urging, because it allowed me to sound out words I might not have recognized. That often enabled me, as she predicted, to get the meaning, since so many English words have Greek origins.

When we landed in Athens, I tried this sounding-out technique on the sign above an airport exit door. Carefully pronouncing each letter, I got "ex-o-dus." Thus a free Bible lesson, all because I learned the Greek alphabet. (The learning was temporary.)

So I think it's worthwhile to learn the sounds associated with letters in non-Roman alphabets. It can help you understand things people are saying, and writing that isn't translated. It's a step beyond the common advice to learn a few common polite phrases in the local language, but in the same spirit.

Dick, I agree that being able to sound out words would be quite useful. Looks like I have something to do on snowy days this winter.

Or be lucky enough to have a hubby good with languages. Mine grew up in Yugoslavia and had to learn Serbian too so good with the Cryrillic alphabet. When he came to the US in 1969 the only other non-English speakers in his class were Greek. The kids he met are still friends and he learned a lot of Greek from them over the years. So we are covered whenever we finally get there.

I can read (but not always understand) Cyrillic and Greek. I found in Greece that understanding the Greek words was very helpful, as many words were easily understood when sounded out.

There is a story about a traveler in Russia who was trying to remember how to find his hotel. He saw a local sign and thought "I will write that down to help find my hotel again". The word was "Ректоран". He wrote it down. If he knew Cyrillic, he would realize that this is "restauran", so not much help in most big cities.

I have never been to Bulgaria. But for Greece I’d say it’s not necessary. English is widely spoken, and knowing a few spoken words of Greek is much more useful than reading the alphabet - they have enough tourists from non-Greek alphabet places that most signs are pictorial or in the Roman alphabet. Maybe if you were going way off the beaten path to small villages alone, then yea, but in the cities or islands with any tourism you’ll be fine with a few words and English.

Thanks, Mira. Based on all the advice, I'll plan to learn some key phrases of course, and to recognize a few key words. I think being able to sound out words would be an advantage, but that will be subject to having the time and energy to do so this winter. There is plenty to learn and organize preparing for a very long trip.

Not knowing the language or how to read signs is a great way to meet people and discover new places. Have fun.

Yes! Absolutely learn the Greek alphabet. There are enough cognates & loanwords & roots that you will be able to actually understand some signs

Years ago, I used to be all over this but now, aside from the basic pleasantries, I can't be bothered.

I see that opinions on this subject are all over the map. But I have appreciated reading and considering the different viewpoints. We'll see how much I get done before the trip.

If you get off the beaten track in Greece it helps to know the alphabet but in the tourist zones you won’t use it. I wouldn’t go to Bulgaria without learning their alphabet if I were touring on my own. I also suggest staying at an English-speaking hotel i.e., an American chain while in Bulgaria.

If I were going to Sofia, I would not rely only on English, I would learn to memorize some of the Cyrillic and certain phrases.

Okay, Bulgaria, been a few times.
A guide us a huge help as transportation isn't that great; and the guide outside of Sofia will help with any language concerns.
But, wonderful welcoming people and no matter how you do it, if your experiences are like mine, you will have help all along the way.

If I guide does interest you, I know a woman that is wonderful and now a dear friend.

I'll learn a bit of both, just to be respectful and not entirely dependent on charades. Thanks for all the advice.

Just a note to mention that Serbian Cyrillic is different from Russian Cyrillic. Not sure where Bulgarian Cyrillic comes down. Russian Cyrillic has 5 extra vowels plus 2 extra signs. Serbian Cyrillic has a special L, H, and N.

Thanks, Paul. Yes, I figured out that the different languages use slightly different Cyrillic alphabets. I'm studying the Bulgarian one and just about have it down pat. Next, Serbian. If anyone else is following, youTube videos actually provided handy graphics that I grabbed and printed out to study.

If you know Cyrillic, you can easily detect Russian vs Serbian by the most cursory of glances. They really look quite different.

I have been to Greece once. I have not traveled to Serbia or Bulgaria. It is always polite to learn some words and phrases in the local language wherever you go. You feel smarter if you can read or pronounce signs or labels. Greek and Cyrillic alphabets can't possibly be that hard compared to the Ge'ez syllabary used to write Amharic and certain Ethiopian languages, the Hebrew and Arabic abjads (vowels aren't written, the letters only are consonants), the alphabets for the languages of India, the Japanese and Chinese symbols (thousands of symbols for each word and the pronunciation and tones would have to be memorized), and so on ... I had a phonology class in college. I may be better than most people at pronouncing foreign languages. ... for extra credit look up the phonology of Greek and Bulgarian and look up how to pronounce International phonetic symbols.

With technology ever evolving, it is getting markedly easier to translate foreign languages using Translate Apps and your smartphone camera - signage, menus etc.

Thanks for the recent additional comments. I now have learned the international phonetic alphabet, which I didn't even know about when studying languages and English a lifetime ago. And I agree that the Translate app will be my friend. Of course I'll be learning a few key spoken phrases in each language to be culturally respectful, but it was reading basic signs that had me worried at first. With some study on Cyrillic characters, I'm much more confident now.